The Combating of Rape Act 8 of 2000 © Based on a template produced by the Gender Research and Advocacy Project of the Legal Assistance Centre The Legal Assistance Centre takes no responsibility for any changes made to the template

1100 Namibia has approximately rapes/attempted rapes per year The aim of the first three slides is to give the participants some background information about the incidence of rape in Namibia. according to the Legal Assistance Centre 2006 report Rape in Namibia

according to the Legal Assistance Centre 2006 Sex of rape victims 93% female 7% male In the majority of cases of rape and attempted rape, the victim is a woman according to the Legal Assistance Centre 2006 report Rape in Namibia

Sex of rapists 99% male 1% female In the majority of cases of rape and attempted rape, the perpetrator is a man according to the Legal Assistance Centre 2006 report Rape in Namibia

Relationship between rapist & victim 21% Relationship to complainant unknown 25% Relatives, spouses, or intimate partners 42% Acquaintances 12% Strangers In most cases, the victim was acquainted with, related to or in a relationship with the rapist

What is the definition of rape?

Rape is the intentional commission of a sexual act under coercive circumstances To ensure that the participants understand the definition of rape, you will need to explain the meaning of the terms “coercive circumstances” and “sexual act”. These terms are defined on the next slides.

What are coercive circumstances? The previous law defined rape as sexual intercourse without consent The new law uses the term coercion Coercion is the use of force or threats of force This means you might be coerced to have sex, or coerced to “consent” out of fear. This is rape.

Examples of coercion Force Threats Being detained Being helpless Sleeping Intoxicated with liquor The victim believes that it is someone else Intimidation The victim has a physical disability, mental incapacity or other inability to prevent the rape The victim is under the influence of some drug/substance which mentally incapacitates him/her

What is a sexual act? The insertion of the penis into the vagina of another person, to even the slightest degree The insertion of the penis into the mouth or anus The insertion of any other part of the body into the vagina or anus The insertion of any part of the body of an animal into the vagina or anus The insertion of any object into the vagina or anus Cunninglingus (oral stimulation of the female genitals) Any other form of genital stimulation Any other form of genital stimulation. This includes stimulation of the genitals with the hand, or forcing the complainant to masturbate himself or herself.

Two examples of rape If you are starting to have sex but change your mind and your boyfriend physically forces you to continue, this is rape If you make someone really drunk so that your friend can have sex with them, both you and your friend are guilty of rape Coercion comes into play at any stage 3 men rape a women, each time the 2 others holding her down. Each man will be charged with 3 counts of rape Gang rape gets the highest minimum sentence – 15 years per rape – so in this case a total of 45 years in prison

Statutory rape It is automatically rape if someone under the age of 14 commits a sexual act with someone who is 3 years older It is also a crime if someone under the age of 16 has any kind of sexual contact with someone who is 3 years older (Combating of Immoral Practices Act) Definition of sexual contact is broader than definition of sexual act The age gap is a form of coercion. Crimes are committed in these circumstances even if there was no other kind of coercion

Examples This means that a 26-year-old who has sex with a 12-year-old is raping the child, even if the child consents to have sex If a 12-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl agree to have sex, this is not rape because they are the same age

Marital rape Rape can happen in a marriage If a husband forces his wife or a wife forces her husband, it is rape

Rape is gender-neutral Both males and females can be the victims of rape Both males and females can be the perpetrators of rape Male on male and female on female Rape can occur in men (6-8%), women, children (1/3) and marriage

Gang rape If one person forces a person to have sex with someone else, both people can be accused of rape If 3 men take it in turns to rape a person, it is possible for each of them to be charged with committing 3 rapes

Quiz: Is this rape? A girl is taken to the riverbed by her boyfriend and when they get there his friends are waiting to have sex with her. She is too scared to say no and she lets them have sex with her

Yes this is rape. If there a 4 people and they each have sex with the girlfriend, each person could be charged with 4 counts of rape

The uncle of a small girl fondles her private parts A married woman who is HIV positive has an agreement with her HIV positive husband that they will use condoms so that they do not increase their infection level. He comes home drunk and forces her to have sex without a condom

Yes, both are examples of rape A sexual act does not have to include penetration A rape can happen between a man and his wife

What to do if you have been raped

Steps Do not wash Report the rape See a doctor or nurse as soon as possible. Get counselling

Seek help Report the rape to the police Women and Child Protection Units at police stations are there to help rape victims They will collect evidence and investigate the crime They can take you to a hospital to get medical treatment. Go to hospital or see a doctor as soon as possible You will need to receive medication that will reduce the risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases The doctor can give medication to help prevent pregnancy Go to hospital or see a doctor as soon as possible, some medication will only work if taken soon after the rape Report the rape – it could stop somebody else being raped WCPUs have special training on how to deal with rape victims They will get you medical help and put you in contact with a social worker

Collecting evidence Wait for evidence to be taken before you change your clothes wash yourself tidy the area where you were raped Write down everything you can remember Bathing will wash away vital evidence Don’t put your clothes in a plastic bag, it destroys the evidence Writing down information will help you with your report to the police. You do not have to give a statement straight away, but you should seek immediate medical attention Keep the details of your case number and the name of the policeman who helped you Take a change of clothes to the police station Don’t be embarassed about giving details to the police, the information will help to convict the perpetrator If you are afraid they will come back again, tell the police. The sooner you report a rape, the more likely evidence can be collected that can be used in court

Post-exposure prophylaxis PEP is a course of antiretroviral drugs which can give help prevent HIV infection if started within 24-72 hours of the rape – the sooner the better All rape survivors should be given PEP treatment It is very important for survivors to finish the month-long treatment of PEP. If they do not, the medication may not work PEP is a course of antiretroviral drugs which can give help prevent HIV infection if started within 24-72 hours of the rape – the sooner the better. All rape survivors should be given PEP treatment. PEP is free for people who have been raped and cannot afford to pay. If PEP is not available at the medical centre where the survivor seeks help, the medical personnel and the police should make arrangements to get PEP elsewhere. All district hospitals should have PEP. It is very important for survivors to finish the month-long treatment of PEP. If they do not, the medication may not work.

Can you help Mary? Mary, a married woman, arrives at your home late at night. She is crying and very upset. Her husband lost his job that day and came home drunk and angry. He tore her clothes off and put his penis in her anus. She has never heard of this kind of sex. Normally they use a condom but this time her husband did not use one. She is torn and bleeding and doesn’t know what to do. She does not want to report her husband to the police

Explain to Mary that what happened was rape Be very gentle with Mary, and keep calm yourself If Mary does not want to report the rape, you should not try to force her to go to the police Go with her to a hospital or clinic as she is injured. If Mary knows she is HIV negative or if she does not know her HIV status, ask the doctor to give her PEP Encourage her to talk to someone she trusts about the problem, such as a family member who could talk to the husband about his behaviour Arrange counselling for Mary if possible. Be supportive, don’t tell anyone else about this situation, and continue to show that you will support her

Topic for discussion Some people believe that having sex with a virgin can cure HIV infection Have you heard of this myth? If so, what can be done to inform people that it is not true? Suggest that when the group leave the workshop, they each talk about this myth with 10 other people.

Emotional consequences of rape Different people react to rape in different ways. Here we will discuss Some common reactions and describes the stages of response which are experienced by many rape complainants. In the following slides are some of the feelings a person who has been raped may experience

Anger Direct anger towards family or themselves Feeling they have lost control over their life Direct anger at someone else for letting it happen Feelings such as loss of control over their life are not uncommon; or they may feel angry that such things as rape can happen in our society. They may direct your feelings of anger towards the rapist, the doctor, the police, family members or themself.

Guilt Feeling that it is their fault Could they have done wore ‘sexy’ clothes invited the person in encouraged them Could they have done something to escape? They may feel guilty that the rape was their fault. They may wonder if they could have done something to get away from the rapist or they might blame yourself for walking alone at night, for leaving a door or window open or for inviting a “friend” into the house. They may also worry that you did something which unintentionally encouraged the rapist.

Shame Lose their self-respect Feel dirty Fear they will be blamed Too embarrassed to admit to the rape The rapist may have forced them to do things which made them feel dirty and they may feel that the rape has destroyed their self respect. They may feel that they will be blamed for not being able to stop the rape from happening.

Loss of control Feel disempowered because they submitted Feel like they can’t even make small decisions They may feel disempowered because they had to submit to the rapist even though the rapist used force or coercion or drugs. Even a small decision such as what to wear or what to eat may be difficult after the rape.

Fear Feel afraid that it will happen again Feel unsafe all the time Feel unsafe talking to men

How to help a friend who has been raped Assume they are upset even if they don’t show it Listen to them Don’t judge them Be supportive Wait until they are ready to talk Give them options but don’t force them Try to prevent them being alone directly after the rape

The consequences of rape Punished by 5, 10 or 15 years for a first offence Punished by 10, 20 or 45 years for a repeat offender

Evidence in court A rape case is private – the public cannot come to the court case The identity of a rape survivor must not be published by the media The sexual history of the victim is not relevant The character of the victim is not relevant

Special duties of the prosecutor The prosecutor has a special duty to give the rape survivor information about the trial The rape survivor should be informed if there is a bail hearing The rape survivor has the right to give information about why the accused should not be released on bail. The Magistrate will consider this information

Myths about rape Rape is just rough sex If there isn’t a weapon involved, it wasn’t rape People secretly enjoy rape. Rape is only committed by strangers in dark alleys WHAT DO YOU THINK? . She didn’t scream or fight back so it wasn’t rape The victim is responsible because she was dressed provocatively Ask the participants to respond to these statements People say ‘no’’ when they mean yes. A man can’t be raped

Remember Rape is never the fault of the victim, it is the fault of the rapist! NO MEANS NO!